|
|
|
Sada-E-Aman - Voice of Peace - E-Journal - Volume 2, Number 4
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sada-E-Aman - Voice of Peace
10 November 2003 Vol. 2, No. 4
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
** Note: Sada-E-Aman is a monthly E-Journal published by the Kashmir-HR.net, a project of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). Sada-E-Aman intends to bring articles relating to the human rights problems faced by the people of Kashmir. The views expressed in the articles published in this e-journal are of the individual authors only.
AHRC's concern for Kashmir is the people and not any of the big powers. People deserve a just peace with which they can carry on their lives peacefully. Our concern is also the children of Kashmir; you have the right to grow up without the trauma of war. We do also have a special concern for women of Kashmir who have faced the worst aspects of life when society is torn apart. Children and women are also long term victims of enforced and involuntary disappearances.
AHRC is deeply concerned with the miseries and sufferings of Kashmiri people along both sides of Line of Control (LoC) that divides the State of Jammu Kashmir. AHRC in its written statements to the UN Commission on human rights (58th & 59th session) held in Geneva, called upon the commission to take necessary steps for the reunion of Kashmiri families. In a significant development in the history of Indo-Pak relations, Indian government proposed a 12 Point Peace Package to normalize the tense environment of sub-continent. The proposed Peace Package also includes a bus service between Srinagar(Indian administrated Kashmir) and Muzaffarabad (Pakistani administrated Kashmir). AHRC believes that "if Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha's proposal for a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad comes true, it will give new lease of life to the divided families of Kashmir."
AHRC has already mentioned this important point in a written statement to the UN Commission on Human Rights by saying that "The Line of Control (LOC) established between Indian and Pakistani occupied Kashmir denies Kashmiris the right to freedom of movement, in contravention of article 12(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The LOC has separated mothers from their children and sisters from their brothers. For many divided families there is a distance of only a few miles between them, but the foreign forces of occupation have not allowed them to meet with their loved ones for the last 54 years. Those able to get permission to cross must travel a circuitous route—sometimes thousands of miles—to cover the distance between them of only a few miles. Sadly, most of the first generation of separated families has already passed away, its dreams to reunite left unfulfilled."
http://www.alrc.net/mainfile.php/59written_item10/169/
.In the words of Dr. Nazir Gilani, Secretary General of Jammu Kashmir Commission for Human Rights (JKCHR)" in the recent past we have noticed that East Germany set a high price for the 'family visit' proposal made by the West Germany. We find that West German leadership acted in the interests of the divided families. It moved confidently and yielded on many points to their political disadvantage to the demands of East Germany. The family re-unions and the family visit arrangement ultimately brought down the Berlin Wall. The people to people contact, although very controlled, brought about a reunification of the country."
AHRC believes that both Delhi and Islamabad will act and react positively to this proposal and people to people contact (although limited), along both sides of LOC will take a more humane turn to resolve the Kashmir issue.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS
|
|
|
